Head of Payments Strategy & Portfolio

JVR Software; Pretoria; Remote; ZAR 4,000,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

JVR Software in Pretoria is seeking an executive leader to shape the future of payments in South Africa. The role focuses on defining the SA payments strategy, steering a large portfolio, and driving revenue growth while aligning with regulatory expectations.

The ideal candidate has 12+ years in payments or financial services, with a proven track record in strategy, growth, and regulatory engagement, delivering client value at scale.

Qualifications

• Experience leading payments portfolios with strong commercial accountability.
• Proven ability to drive strategy and growth in regulated environments.
• Track record of delivering sustainable revenue and profitability.
• Experience engaging with regulators and industry stakeholders.
• Deep knowledge of SA payments ecosystem and market infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the South African payments strategy, aligning business priorities with market opportunities and long-term growth objectives.
• Lead a large and complex payments portfolio, ensuring sustainable revenue growth, profitability, and market competitiveness.
• Drive the development and adoption of innovative payment solutions across the business.
• Shape compelling client value propositions that respond to evolving customer needs and market trends.
• Lead strategic initiatives and large-scale transformation programmes across multiple stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with regulators, industry bodies, market infrastructures, and executive leadership teams.
• Leverage market intelligence, industry developments, and emerging technologies to drive competitive advantage.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, accountability, innovation, and execution excellence.

Skills

Payments strategy

P&L management

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory engagement

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Commerce/IT

Job description

This executive role offers the opportunity to influence the future of payments by shaping market strategy, driving commercial performance, enhancing client value propositions, and leading engagement with regulators, industry stakeholders, and executive decision-makers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and execute the South African payments strategy, aligning business priorities with market opportunities and long-term growth objectives.
• Lead a large and complex payments portfolio, ensuring sustainable revenue growth, profitability, and market competitiveness.
• Drive the development and adoption of innovative payment solutions across the business.
• Shape compelling client value propositions that respond to evolving customer needs and market trends.
• Lead strategic initiatives and large-scale transformation programmes across multiple stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with regulators, industry bodies, market infrastructures, and executive leadership teams.
• Leverage market intelligence, industry developments, and emerging technologies to drive competitive advantage.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, accountability, innovation, and execution excellence.

What We’re Looking For:

• Degree in Business, Commerce, Information Technology, or a related field.
• 12+ years of experience within payments, transaction banking, or a related financial services environment.
• Demonstrated success leading payments portfolios with significant commercial accountability.
• Proven experience driving business strategy and growth initiatives within complex, regulated environments.
• Strong track record of managing P&L responsibility and delivering sustainable commercial outcomes.
• Experience engaging with regulators, executive leadership teams, and key industry stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of the South African payments ecosystem, market infrastructure, and industry trends.
• Exceptional leadership, stakeholder management, and strategic execution capability.

Why This Opportunity?

• Executive-level leadership role.
• Significant influence over the future of payments in South Africa.
• Exposure to strategic decision-making, innovation, and market-shaping initiatives.
• Opportunity to work at the intersection of commercial strategy, client value creation, technology, and regulatory engagement.